Inflatable pocketed target device



Dec. 29, 1964 J. H. LEMELSON 3,163,419

INFLATABLE POCKETED TARGET DEVICE Filed July 15, 1964 INVEN TOR.

gun; Ale/mm United States Patent 3,163,419 HQFLATABLE EGCKETED TARGETDEVICE Jerome 1i. Lemeison, 85 Rector Sh, Metuchen, NJ. Fiied July 13,1964, Ser. No. 332,131 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-105) This invention relates toan inflatable game device and is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication Serial No. 26,925 filed on April 11, 1960, and entitledPlastic Toys, now Patent Number 3,142,932.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedinflatable game device.

Another object is to provide a game device in the form of a target whichmay be packaged in a small container and inflated when ready for use toa size substantially larger than the container in which it is packaged.

Another object is to provide an inflatable game device with simple meansfor retaining an object such as a ball or defining an opening thereinthrough which said object may be tossed.

Another object is to provide an inflatable target decorated to representa sports figure such as a baseball player adapted to receive or retain aball tossed at a portion of the target.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereafter morefully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an inflatable target shown inflated andembodying the features of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view taken in cross-section of the device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate details of the game apparatus structure of oneform of the invention. The game device 10 comprises an inflatable body11 adapted to be selfsupporting on a surface such as a floor or theground and normally retained when inflated in the upright attitudeillustrated by sand ballast B or other means disposed in the bottom ofbody 11. The body 11 is fabricated of a plurality of sections offlexible plastic sheeting including a first sheet 12 defining a frontwall and a second sheet 13 defining a rear wall which walls bulgeoutwardly as illustrated when the body 11 is inflated through valve 22which is shown sealed to the wall 13. Material comprising walls 12 and13 is preferably flexible polyvinylchloride plastic although it maycomprise any suitable flexible plastic capable of being heat sealed andinflated to the shape illustrated or to any suitable shape. If saidwalls are vinyl plastic, the entire inflatable portion may beelectronically heat sealed to enclose an interior volume 14 capable ofbeing pressurized to outwardly bulge walls 12 and 13 in a semi-rigidbody structure.

Printed on the face of front wall 12 of the inflatable body 11 is anillustration 2t) representing a sports figure such as a baseball fielderor catcher adapted to enhance the realism of the toy and provide theillusion that the player is actually tossing an object or ball at asports figure, as illustrated, to catch same.

Provided through the central portion of body 11 is a hole or opening 15defining a target area through which a missile such as a ball may bethrown or projected. The opening 15 is provided by eflecting aclosed-loop heat seal 16 shown in the form of a circular Weld betweenflexible walls 12 and 13 and removing the material in terior of weld 16to provide a through and through opening which is defined by acircumscribing side Wall when the target is inflated.

In a preferred form of the invention it may be desired 3,163,419Patented Dec. 29, 1964 ICC to retain the object tossed through opening15 for scoring purposes and means in the form of a cup or bag shapedretainer 18 is provided across the opening 15. Such retainer may be madeof the flexible sheet material of either or both walls 12 and 13 whichhas been provided in a slack condition such as that illustrated prior toheat sealing the walls together and effecting the circular seal 16 or itmay be made of .a separate section of flexible sheet plastic materialheat sealed to a portion of flexible material provided inward of sealline 16 or along said seal line.

Notation B refers to sand ballast provided in the bottom of theinflatable enclosure 11 to maintain it in an upright state asillustrated on the floor or ground. The pocket 18 is preferably providedsufliciently slack to retain a plurality of balls or missiles 21 thrownor propelled through the opening 15 when directed at the side of thetarget defined by wall 12. To improve the appearance of the toy, adecoration 21 may be provided by printing on the face 17 of wall 12representing, for example, the front view of a baseball player. Notation22 refers to a valve disposed in wall 13 for inflating body 11 toprovide it in an erect self-supporting condition by pressurizing theinside volume 14. i

In another form of the invention, pocket or flap 18 may partially coverthe opening 15 in body 11 or may be eliminated entirely whereby theplayer may observe the flight of the missile or ball.

A latitude of modification and substitution is intended in the foregoingdisclosure and in certain instances some features of the invention willbe used without a. corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, itis appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in amanner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Game apparatus comprising in combination an inflatable body, amissile adapted to be propelled at said body, means for retaining saidbody when inflated upright on a surface, a target portion of said deviceadapted for receiving and retaining an object propelled thereat, saidtarget portion having opposed walls, a through opening in said targetportion defined by a closed loop heat seal between said walls, and areceptacle for said missile disposed across said opening at the rear ofsaid target portion and secured to said body.

2. Game apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said receptacle for saidmissile comprising a pocket shaped retainer, said retainer being heatsealed to the material of the rear wall of said inflatable body.

3. Game apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said receptacle comprisinga sheet offlexible plastic extending across the opening in said body andheat sealed thereto at said closed loop heat seal.

4. Game apparatus in accordance with claim 3, said receptacle sheet offlexible plastic being shaped as a pouch extending rearwardly from saidopening and adapted for receiving and retaining said missile therein.

5. Game apparatus comprising in combination a target having a body madeof flexible, thin sheet plastic material which is heat sealed to definean inflatable closure and having a valve secured to said bodyforinflating same to an erect, upstanding condition, means for retainingthe inflated body upright, a target portion of said body adapted forreceiving and retaining an object propelled thereat, said target portionhaving opposed walls and including a through opening therein defined bya substantially circular heat seal between the walls, and means disposedacross said opening at the rear of said target portion for retainingsaid object when passed through said opening to define scoring.

6. Game apparatus in accordance with claim 5, said retaining meanscomprising a flexible bag extending across the opening therein'to definemeans for receivingand 7.'A game device comprising in combination an infiatable body made of flexible thermoplastic sheeting,

means for inflating said body to a semi-rigid erect condition, meansincluding ballast disposed at the bottom of said body for, retainingsaid body erect on a surface, a target portion of said inflatable bodyincluding a through opening provided in the walls thereof, said openingdefined by cireumscribing sealing means securing portions of the wallsof said inflatable body together, said hole defining a target passagewaythrough which an object such as a ball may be projected to indicate ascore when so directed.

4!, 8. Game apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the front Wallof said inflatable body bears a pictorial representation of a baseballplayer.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 715,249 12/02Dunbar 273--105 1,218,398 3/17 Gurtov 273-105 1,469,130 9/23 Whitehair273-182 X 2,201,865 5/40 Kriekard 273-105 2,254,986 9/41 Ziel 273-262,886,318 5/59 Tarbox a 273-105 X 2,939,707 6/60 Lemelson 273-105 v 15DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

1. GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN INFLATABLE BODY, AMISSILE ADAPTED TO BE PROPELLED AT SAID BODY, MEANS FOR RETAINING SAIDBODY WHEN INFLATED UPRIGHT ON A SURFACE, A TARGET PORTION OF SAID DEVICEADAPTED FOR RECEIVING AND RETAINING AN OBJECT PROPELLED THEREAT, SAIDTARGET PORTION HAVING OPPOSED WALLS, A THROUGH OPENING IN SAID TARGETPORTION DEFINED BY A CLOSED LOOP HEAT SEAL BETWEEN SAID WALLS, AND ARECEPTACLE FOR SAID MISSILE DISPOSED ACROSS SAID OPENING AT THE REAR OFSAID TARGET PORTION AND SECURED TO SAID BODY.